GIve Me Strength!!!!

Something that has really stood out to me in the first few chapters of 1 Nephi has been all of the times that Lehi and Nephi are told about a promised land that God has prepared for them. 1 Nephi 2: 20 reads, "And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands." Up until this time, the promised land referred to in that scripture has always been 'the promised land,' the America's, the land they would come to after crossing the sea. But this time around, the scripture was much more personal and applied directly to my life: God has prepared a choice land for all of us in the next life. A promised land that is greater than anything we could ever comprehend in these mere mortal bodies. A land that we will attain if we simply choose to keep his commandments. After reading that verse I just sat there and pondered on this thought, letting the spirit work within me. It was so cool to have that personal time to really think about how well God knows me and all that He has in store for me! 

A few chapters later when Laman and Lemuel and some of the sons of Ishmael bind Nephi, I again had a very new point of view on the story as I was able to apply the scriptures to my life. 1 Nephi 7: 17 reads, "But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound." Now of course I am not physically bound, but I can ask God to give me strength. To get through a hard school day. A test. The temptations of Satan. Things that make me stray from the path that leads to our promised land. And other trials that come my way. I have always known I can do that, but I guess the scripture helped me to realize that some of those things can be EXTREMELY binding, but all we need is the strength of God on our side. God tells us in Alma 7:15 "I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yeah come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism." Those sins that beset us, those sins that bind us, those sins that make us stray from our path to the promised land, those sins… they can have no power over us. Just take them to Christ and lay them aside. He will give you strength!!!